The Mental Cast

Episode 034 | State of the Universe 2022 | December 2022
It is time for the annual recap and roadmap episode of The MentalCast! In this special year-end reflection, host Dan Mickle shares a personal and unscripted look back at 2022 — the challenges, the lessons learned, and the growth that came with it.
Dan also offers a candid look ahead, sharing his intentions and plans for 2023, both personally and professionally. If you are someone who enjoys real talk about the ups and downs of life and performance, this is an episode you will connect with.
Topics covered:
Honest reflections on the struggles of the past year
Lessons learned from 2022
Personal and professional growth goals for 2023
Why opening up about challenges matters
The importance of creating an intentional roadmap for the year ahead
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Episode 033 | Benefits of Losing | December 2022
Losing sucks…no question about it. But in this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle digs into why losing and failure can actually be some of the most powerful tools for growth.
Too often, we slap shallow motivational sayings on the back of t-shirts and leave it at that. Dan challenges us to go deeper: to truly examine how we can use loss and failure to drive personal and team development. The key is understanding how to process setbacks in a way that leads to meaningful progress, both on and off the field.
If you are tired of cliché advice and ready for a more authentic conversation about failure and growth, this is your episode.
Topics covered:
Why failure is necessary for growth
Moving beyond empty motivational clichés
How to process losing in a healthy, productive way
Strategies for helping athletes grow through setbacks
Reframing failure as opportunity
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Episode 032 | They Ain't Coachable | November 2022
In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle challenges the common narrative that players today “aren’t coachable.” Maybe the issue is not the players — maybe it is how we, as coaches, are trying to reach them.
Dan explores the importance of truly knowing who your players are: beyond their positions or what they contribute on the field. Building meaningful relationships and adapting to generational shifts are key to effective coaching. Today’s athletes are not weaker or "less" in any way — they are unique to their time and situation. And it is on us as coaches to evolve with them.
Topics covered:
Rethinking what it means to be "coachable"
Why understanding your players matters more than ever
Building stronger coach-athlete relationships
How generational shifts impact coaching approaches
Moving away from outdated coaching narratives
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Episode 031 | Pump The Brakes | October 2022
Are we headed toward a cliff in the youth sports world? Possibly. Can we avoid it? Absolutely.
In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle explores the growing concerns in youth sports from burnout to corruption to declining participation. The problem is not one group or issue; it is a systemic challenge that requires everyone at the table: coaches, parents, players, administrators, and officials.
Dan shares why the time to pump the brakes is now — before things slide further. This is not a blame game, but a call for education, collaboration, and collective solutions. The clock is ticking, but change is still within reach.
Topics covered:
Current risks and trends in youth sports
The need for collaborative solutions
Why finger-pointing does not work
The role of education in driving change
How all stakeholders can help fix the system
Resources mentioned:
Washington Post Article — "Billions flow through youth sports. And some of it keeps disappearing."
Shitty Haiku (Volume 1) by Dan Mickle
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Episode 030 | A Personal Look at Living in the Grey | September 2022
In this deeply personal episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle returns from a month-long hiatus to open up about his ongoing mental health journey — specifically, what it feels like to live in “the grey.”
There is a space between happiness and depression where many people quietly exist, though it is rarely discussed. Thanks to reading Jay Glazer’s book Unbreakable, Dan was able to better understand this space, give it a name, and begin building a plan to combat it. This episode offers an honest look at the struggles Dan faces and aims to encourage others who might also be living in this in-between space.
One of the most personal and vulnerable episodes of the series, this conversation is for anyone seeking connection, understanding, or simply the reassurance that they are not alone in their struggles.
Topics covered:
Understanding what it means to live “in the grey”
The personal challenges of navigating this mental space
How Unbreakable by Jay Glazer inspired new awareness and action
Tools and resources that help manage mental well-being
Breaking the silence around this often hidden experience
Resources mentioned:
Unbreakable by Jay Glazer
The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
Headspace Meditation App and Website
Best Self Journal
Shitty Haiku (Volume 1) by Dan Mickle
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Episode 029 | Interview with travel writer, Pam Brant | June 2022
In this episode of The MentalCast, we go back to our roots with a new interview format. Host Dan Mickle sits down with travel writer, blogger, and volleyball super-fan Pam Brant for a wide-ranging conversation about reinvention, resilience, and finding new passions.
Pam shares her journey of becoming a travel writer, her experiences as a proud "volley mom," and the pivots she had to make when COVID disrupted her original life path. Often we hear about new ventures after they are well-established — this conversation brings you the raw, ground-level experience of starting fresh and building something new.
It is an inspiring look at how adaptability, creativity, and passion can lead to exciting new opportunities.
Topics covered:
The journey to becoming a travel writer and blogger
Life as a "volley mom" and the volleyball community
Pivoting and reinventing yourself after COVID
Building something new from scratch
Lessons in resilience and adaptability
Guest links:
Volleyball and Sunsets on Facebook
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Episode 028 | Legos and Scrabble | May 2022
In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle shares a personal story that starts with his childhood dislike of Legos and the board game Scrabble — and evolves into a deeper reflection on the fear of other people’s opinions (FOPO).
What began as frustration over not being "good enough" at these activities turned out to be less about ability and more about fear of judgment. Dan explores this journey of self-awareness and digs into the research and psychology behind FOPO, offering insights that can help all of us better understand how fear of external opinions can quietly shape our decisions and confidence.
If you have ever hesitated to try something new or second-guessed yourself based on what others might think, this episode will hit home.
Topics covered:
How childhood experiences can shape fear of judgment
Understanding the concept of FOPO (Fear of Other People’s Opinions)
How FOPO impacts confidence, performance, and risk-taking
Strategies to identify and reduce the influence of FOPO
Personal reflections on growth and overcoming limiting beliefs
Resources mentioned:
Tips to Soothe Your Worries of What Others Think of You
Are You Limited by the Fear of What Other People Think? by Leah Cox
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Episode 027 | Say Goodbye | April 2022
Season 4 kicks off with this reflective episode of The MentalCast, where host Dan Mickle explores the concept of walking away — how to recognize when it is time, why it is sometimes necessary, and the personal and professional growth that can come from making that difficult choice.
This episode also gets a little personal, as Dan shares his own experiences and insights on walking away from roles, opportunities, and situations that no longer align with his values or vision.
We are excited to bring you another season of conversations centered on mental performance, coaching, leadership, and personal development.
Topics covered:
Recognizing when it is time to walk away
The emotional and mental process of letting go
How stepping away can open the door to new growth
Aligning decisions with values and personal well-being
Reflections on leadership, boundaries, and self-care
Resources mentioned:
5 Signs It's Time to Quit Your Volunteer Role by Cynthia Lockrey
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Episode 026 | Why I Walked Away | November 2021
Continuing the theme of openness and personal reflection, in this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle shares from the heart about why he made the difficult decision to walk away from his role as a youth club director.
This unscripted and unedited conversation dives into the challenges he faced with organizational culture, the personal toll it took, and the clarity he gained through the experience. Dan also discusses the new path and vision he is pursuing…one grounded in authenticity, purpose, and personal values.
For anyone facing tough career decisions, culture challenges, or seeking to align their work with their true purpose, this is a deeply relatable and honest episode.
Topics covered:
Why Dan chose to step away from being a youth club director
The struggles and challenges with organizational culture
The personal impact of difficult leadership decisions
Lessons learned and new visions for the future
A message of gratitude to those who supported the journey
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Episode 025 | I Wasn't Prepared | September 2021
In what may be the most open and vulnerable episode of The MentalCast to date, host Dan Mickle takes the mic solo to share where he has been over the past two months and the personal struggles he has been navigating.
This unscripted and unedited conversation dives into Dan’s experience with burnout: what it looked like, how it impacted him, and how he began to fight his way back. It is a raw and honest look at an all-too-common challenge that many coaches, leaders, and high performers face — often in silence.
If you have ever struggled with burnout, exhaustion, or finding your footing again after a tough season, this episode is here to remind you that you are not alone.
Topics covered:
Recognizing the signs of burnout
What burnout feels like behind the scenes
Fighting through the toughest moments
Why it is okay to step back and ask for help
Coming back stronger and with new perspective
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul